‘Wear your apron on the inside’

    

“Finally, Brethren, be ye all of one mind; live in peace, and may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you!”

 

The Harris Charge, delivered at the close of the lodge

Congratulations to Columbia Lodge 1190 on hosting this morning’s enlightening and energizing Zoom meeting for a discussion of the meaning of “egregore.” Worshipful Master Les Joynes welcomed RW Bro. Christophe Lobry-Boulanger, Grand Sword Bearer of our Grand Lodge and a Past Master of France La Clémente Amitié Cosmopolite Lodge 410 in the Tenth Manhattan District, who discussed “Unveiling the Egregore: Exploring the Collective Consciousness in Freemasonry.” Columbia 1190 meets on Saturdays, so the timing of these monthly sessions isn’t odd.

This term “egregore” Christophe described is “a mostly Western European concept.” And, yes, I hear it seldomly in our Anglo-American Masonic tradition. When it is employed, it’s not used effectively—is meant synonymously with ambiance or character of a lodge. I think to the minds of most Masons here, egregore is a term that rightly belongs to other paths, such as Theosophy and Martinism, and yet we speak of it incessantly, albeit indirectly, in our lodges. What makes you a Mason? Your obligations. The oaths are what you promise the GAOTU, but those obligations are vows to your brethren.

Christophe Lobry-Boulanger

Christophe led us to a deeper meaning. Egregore has a “mystic sense,” he explained, because it is a non-physical entity, a “group mind” as like Rousseau’s political thought of the “general will” or “collective will” among people. (My ears perked up when he spoke of ways to achieve it, saying education is a “binding and bonding element.”)

Egregore is a French word, but it originates in the Greek egrḗgoros, meaning to be awake or to be a watcher. Christophe referred us to the Book of Enoch for further understanding, but I leave that to you.

The point is, the Masonic egregore is born in our shared virtue and morality. When he says “wear your apron on the inside,” he means the ritual garment we wear outside the suit jacket is just a symbol, and that it should point to what’s in your heart. When we all are of one mind that way, we have the Masonic egregore.

The brethren’s comments at the end of the 75-minute meeting were fitting and stimulating. If your lodge isn’t having conversations like this, speak up. Do something. Even reach out to brethren from other lodges, if necessary, who can discuss the meaning of Masonry.